We go over the tell-tale signs your liver is in trouble, what damages the liver, and the purpose of the gallbladder.  

Dr. Bart and Karen also delve into the three phases of detox and what happens in the body when the toxins can’t get through all three phases. He also shares what discoveries he’s made about the liver from examining patients’ lab tests pre- and post-COVID, and what viruses mean for our liver health. 

Our livers are our life force, and luckily, they are extremely resilient. Dr. Bart goes offers clear health strategies and herbs to nourish and restore the organ that does so much for you. 

Watch the live show below:

Why talk about the liver? 

We live by the way of our liver. In traditional Chinese medicine, they prioritized the liver as the number one source of chi, or life force energy, in the body. However, most modern-day medicine practitioners only look at the liver when it’s already diseased. 

Because the liver is responsible for getting rid of every toxin that comes into the body, we have to be proactive in keeping it clean and healthy. From what you eat to what you put on your skin, toxins must pass through the liver to get out. 

Liver Functions

Not only does the liver detox the body, but it also stores essential nutrients like vitamins and minerals. The liver also stores glycogen, which is the back-up source of energy the body uses when it’s under stress.

The liver makes cholesterol and also eliminates cholesterol. However, cholesterol can get stacked up in the liver if there’s a back-up of other toxins, and that’s when you’ll experience high cholesterol. 

Another essential function of the liver is the production of bile. Bile helps waste easily move through your small intestine and get eliminated. If you don’t have good production or good storage of bile, then you may become constipated and toxins can’t leave your body.

The Gallbladder’s role

If the liver is Batman, then think of the gallbladder as Robin. The gallbladder stores the extra bile that your liver makes. When your liver is dealing with other toxins and can’t secrete proper amounts of bile, the gallbladder steps in to carry out the function.

Tell-Tale Signs that Your Liver Needs Help 

1. Fatigue

2. Jaundice 

Your skin begins to turn yellow

3. Hormone imbalances

All your hormones go through your liver. For example, the liver converts T4 thyroids to T3 thyroids. 

However, if your liver is dealing with all these other chemicals and toxins, it’s unable to keep up with the proper balance of hormones. 

 4. Skin issues 

If you have hives, psoriasis, eczema, and other skin issues, start by looking at the liver. These skin issues could be caused by toxins trying to release through the skin rather than through the bladder or intestines. 

 5. Allergies 

What damages the liver?

Our livers are resilient. You could’ve been putting alcohol, drugs, and toxins in it for 50 years, but if you properly cleanse and replenish the essential nutrients to the liver, it can recover quickly. However, something damages the liver more than others.

The first thing that begins to damage the liver is constantly putting toxins into the body, whether it be in the form of alcohol or non-organic food. Worry, concern, and fear also weaken the liver’s strength, and last but not least, viruses are also extremely damaging for the liver. 

The Three Phases of Liver Detox 

We are always in the process of detoxing. The ultimate goal, or the mark of a healthy system, is creating a flow in the body where toxins can easily get out.

Phase One

Phase one of liver detox begins when a toxin enters our body. Toxins aren’t just alcohol. They can also be things like pollen or GMO food.

In this stage, the body identifies the toxin and starts to oxidize it, which means it breaks the toxin down to make it water-soluble. The body sends minerals, vitamins, and antioxidants to the liver to help with oxidation. Once it’s water-soluble, the toxin can now enter phase two. 

Phase Two 

In phase two of detox, the body binds the toxin and prepares it to be transported out of your system. However, if you’re putting a bulk of toxins into your body, the liver can quickly be depleted of the resources it uses for binding.

If you’re depleted of things like Vitamin C and other antioxidants, the liver can’t effectively bind toxins in phase two. A simple fix to this problem is to nourish your body with the right foods. Because cruciferous vegetables, like broccoli and brussels sprouts, are insoluble fibers, they are amazing to help bind toxins and get them out of the body.

Phase Three

Phase there of liver detox is transport. This phase is where people often run into the biggest problems.

Maybe you can effectively bind toxins in phase two, but toxins need to be eliminated from the body. To be frank, elimination happens through your pee and poop.

Staying hydrated, drinking the proper amount of water, is essential in the transport phase. Bile is another aspect of transportation because it lubricates the toxins so they can easily move through the intestines.

Medications and the Liver

Sometimes, we’re required to take medications that may tax our liver. However, if you have to be on medication to function at your best in this world, be intelligent about it.

From thyroid medication to Tylenol, all medications stress out the liver. 

If you’re on medication, think about leveling up your health and supporting the three phases of detox.

With regards to phase one, you need to stop putting other junk into your body. Nourish your body with organic foods and the proper herbs. To support phase two of detox, commit to eating insoluble fibers like cruciferous vegetables.

Herbs & supplements mentioned in the show:

Milk Thistle: Only need one in the morning and one in the afternoon 

Schisandra: Restores the liver. Take in combination with milk thistle. 

Livaplex 

Whole Food Vitamin C: Holds together your collagen in your skin and defend the sun. 

Calcium Lactate: Protects your skin from the sun.  

Vitamin F — Cataplex F:  Carries calcium out of the blood and into the tissue.

How does COVID affect the liver? 

When Dr. Bart examined labs from his patients pre-and post-covid, he noticed that the liver makers were changing.

He saw a lot of congestion, not necessarily damage, taking place in the post-COVID labs. Viruses leave debris and dead cells in our bodies that begin to congest the liver. Fatigue is a huge symptom post-COVID because the liver has to work very hard to flush toxins out. 

Questions we cover: 

If someone has high-cholesterol does doing the cleanse help lower it? 

Yes. Our cleanse is very well-suited to support the three phases of detox, and you get to clear excess hormones, drugs, toxins, and cholesterols out of the body. 

If you don’t have a gallbladder, how can bile be built up to help the liver do its job? 

One, if you don’t have a gallbladder, you have to be cleaner than the average person because you don’t have that backup system. Again, eat cruciferous vegetables to clear out your system. Another thing you should add to your diet is beets because they help thin the bile. Also, bad fats, like canola oil, are very bad for your liver and gut. So avoid those. 

I once had fatty liver disease. Can I help my liver?

 Many people have fatty liver disease and aren’t aware of it. Take your hand and run it along the right side of your body.

Try to locate your liver up, underneath your bottom rib. If you go down your ribs and your liver protrudes out, then you may have fatty liver disease. 

Fatty liver disease is caused by bad fats and toxins in the body. The good news is that with a cleanse you can absolutely clean up your liver. Get on milk thistle, eat cruciferous vegetables regularly, and consume black cumin seed. Because fatty liver disease usually goes hand-and-hand with diabetes, make sure you monitor your blood sugar. 

What does being hypersensitive to alcohol mean for your liver? 

The toxins that are in your liver have a compounding effect. Maybe you used to be able to have five drinks, and now you may If you feel drunk after one cocktail or immediately get a headache.

This is because of the accumulation of toxins. And now your liver can’t handle it. You can also see the accumulation effect when out of nowhere you have a food allergy or become really sensitive to fragrances.

Want to connect with Dr. Bart? 

No matter where you are, you can schedule a virtual meeting.

Dr. Bart Precourt

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